Adjustable spring supported chair



April 20, W48. R, J. SHARP ADJUSTABLE SPRING SUPPORTED CHAIR Filed Nov.14, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 -72 ADJUSTABLE SPRING SUPPORTED CHAIR Renwick J.Sharp, Guatemala, Guatemala Application November 14, 1944, Serial No.563,334

The present invention relates to improvements in chairs, particularly anadjustable chair for restaurants, malt shops, soda fountain counters andthe like.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide improved revolving,swaying and adjusting mechanism for application to chairs to provide fortheir adjustability.

Further and more specific objects include the provision of a springwhich can be flexed only in a lateral manner to cooperate with a ballsupport for the chair post wherein the post portion may sway; theprovision of an improved spring construction for automaticallyregulating the position of the back of the chair in relation to the seatwhile the seat is being occupied; the provision of assembled partspermitting more adequate means for oiling and maintaining the associatedparts lubricated; and to provide a chair which is more comfortable andappealing to incline prospective customers to visit the establishmentswhere such luxury affords to the patrons a foretaste of the good thingsto follow.

With theforegoing and other objects in view, the invention furtherresides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in' thedetails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed may be made within the scope of that which is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing wherein is shown what is now deemed to be apreferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical midsection showing someparts in side elevation,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Fi 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cantilever seat spring. 7

Referring in detail to the several figures and particularly first toFigs. 1 and 2, therein is shown a chair I having a seat bottom 8supporting a padded apertured cushion 9. Bowed leaf springs l and H areprovided with a pair of 12 Claims. (01.15541) flanges or ears l2 asshown in Fig. located approximately midway between the ends of thesprings, each ear having an aperture to receive a bolt l3 which spansthe space between the flanges 1 comprising the ears to engage aperturedear drums I4 formed in each rear corner portion of the seat bottom 8thereby providing a support for the rear end of the latter. To the upperends of the bowed springs l0 and H are fastened the padded back supportl5, and the lower end of each spring is developed into a loop l6 looselyengaging the protruding end portions of a pin .H carried by a sleeve 18welded or otherwise fastened to the post l9.

On the underside of the seat bottom 8 at each front corner thereof isfastened by any suitable means a bracket 20 which embraces the bodyportion of a bowed, stirrup-shaped spring member 2| to support somewhatyieldingly in a cantilever fashion the front side of the seat bottom 8,the two arms 22 of the spring member 2| being deflected toward eachother and securely fastened within the apertured cap plate 23 screwedonto the tubular post l9. Said spring arms 22 are both confined to thespace at the front side of the post l9, and each of them has threecurved parts.

The tubular post I9 is extensibly supported within a threaded socket 24of a revolving and swaying member 25 by means of a threaded disk 26screwed into said socket. The disk 26 has a rod 21 axially secured to itwhich is provided with an elongated loop 28 at its end, said loopinterlocking with a similar loop 29 attached to a rod 30 which extendsthrough the seat bottom 8 and has a handle 3| fastened to it for thepurpose of adjusting the height of these-at bottom 8 and cushion 9relative to the member 25. The rod 30 is mounted axially of the post I9and theaperture 32 in thecap 23 permits of a wabbling movement of therod 30 in said aperture. By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that therod 30 extends through a hole 33 in the seat bottom and that 'a flangedcollar 34 is secured to the rod in any suitable manner and heldabuttingly against the underside of the seat bottom by means of thecountersunk plate 35' riveted thereto. In Fig. 1 it will be seen thatthe handle 3| occupies the aperture in the cushion and is manuallyaccessible to any occupant of the chair desiring to use it to adjust theseat to suit their convenience.

A split collar 36, 35a, shown on an increased scale in Fig. 4, isutilized to seal'the mouth of the socket 24, part 36 of the collarhaving a tongue 3! which travels in a groove 38 in the post IE! toprevent the latter from being withdrawn from the member 25 or rotated inrelation thereto, each part 36, 36a being secured to the member 25 bymeans of a plurality of screws 39.

The revolving and swaying member 25 is cylindrically shaped and slightlybelow the bottom of the recess 24 it is outwardly flared at a pointdesignated as {ill and then developed into a downwardly directed skirt41 to overlie in a loose, surroundingmanner the upper portion 42 of theflanged base 43. Said upper portion is shown contracted and has anannular recess 44 into which are projected thepointportionsfi of aplurality of screws 45, said screws permitting revolving and swaying ofthe member 25 but are venting disengagement therewith: v

The member 25 is mounted to revolve sway aperturexil located axially ofY said base, a

threaded bolt- 52 being tapped into the hub-5.3 of the base andextendinginto the threadedportion of the cut spring to prevent rotation.of the latter; there being a cavity 54 extending into said spring to' apoint; adjacentsaid ball 48. At the juncture of the ball with the spiralcut portion 55 of thespringisan annulargarcuated r'eccs's 56 and a setscrew 51i is screwed into said recess t'o maintaina fixed relation ofthe member 25 with the spring 41. The spiral cut in'the spring 41renders the same laterally resilient.

The recess 56'maybe suppliedwith alubricant through the tappedholeoccupied by the screw 5'|- to maintain the globular head in itssemispherical seat lubricated. Also, a lubricant may be introduced-intothe socket 24 before applyingthe split collar to maintain the threadeddisk 26 and threaded portion of the socket 24 lubricated.

A foot rest, slidably mounted upon thelpost l9 and designated by thenurneialEB, is provided 'for the feet of the occupant sitting in thechair, and fdst'iiingmeans 59 are provided for securing the base to thefloor BB.

Commenting further on the cut spring this member. 'mayfbe'con'si'dered anew article of manufacture, since it is separately saleable. Itcompiises a circular body having a globular head at one-end, isexternally threaded at its opposite end, has a cavity opening out at thethreaded end and exte'nding from such end to a point adfiace'nt saidg'lobular' end, and has a spiral slit cut through the material between 1said threadedendand globular end; there being an annular, a-icuated-groovefor-med in the circular body sums-cent to its'globularend a IFrom the :fere'goifig' description the operation is believed to beuhdefstariiiable; exce t that in 8161- ditioirit may bew'elrto statethat the" hinge" axis or the seat bottomfais at the straight inner run22st at the spring 2i, said run being slightly turhabl'e in'relatio'n tothe seat'so that when the? springs I0 and H are depressed the seat backIE will be urgedagainst the .small of the back 'of the person occupyingthe seat, This action is also dependent upon the fact that the pivotalconnection iii-for the lower ends of the bowed i 4 springs II is locatedin a considerably spaced relation to the ears [2.

The downward movement of the seat bottom 8 is limited to the pointdefined by the cap 23, and in the event springs ill and II should evercollapse, the weight of the person sitting in the seat would be carriedspringlessly by said cap 23, the interlocking links 28 and 29 being ofsufllcient length to permit of this extreme depressing.

What is claimed is:

1. In a revolving and swaying adjustable height seat or chair, a seatbottom for supporting a cushion, a tubular post member, an apertured capmember screwed onto the upper portion of said post' member, a two armedcantilever spring having the freeend portions'o'f its arms mounted insaid cap member and its body portion extended horizontally and connectedby bowed downwardly directed runs with said arms, said body portion'uiidei'lyingahdbeing pivoted to the forward por- 's'ubja'ciit said camember, a pair of bowed springs each having looped end portions at oneend pivotally engaging :the free end portions of said pin, means carriedat their concave sides bythe central arched portio'ns of said'bowedsprings pivotally related tome rear portion of saidseat bottom, and aseat back fastened to" and spanning the distance between the other endsot saidfbowedsprings.

"2. The subject matter of claim 1, and brackets carriedby the foreportion of said seat bottom and loosely encircling the horizontarpornonof said cantilever-spring at spaced apart points. v

3. The subjectinatterv ofclaim 1, and, a base, a vertically extendingmember rotatively mounted to sway on said base, said member having averticall'y extending elongated socket in its upper end, and said .postmemberb'eing vertically adjustabliin'said socket.

4. The subject matter of claim 1 and, a base, a vertically extendingmember rotatively mounted to way on said base, said member having avertically extending elongated socket in its upper end,fsaid p'ostmember being verticallyadjustable in said socket, a split collarfastened to said rotatively'ahd swaying member and enclosing the mouthor said socket in a surrounding relation to Said pest member, and aninwardly directed tdfigue' "carried by at least one of the memberscomprising said split collar to engage a vertically extending groove inthe outer surface of said po t'rne'mter. V

5.--The subject matter of claim 1 and, a base, a vertically extendingmember rotatively mounted to sway on said base, said member having avertically extending elongated socket in its upper end, said postmember: being-vertically adjustable in said socket, a split collarfastened to said rotatively and swaying member and enclosing the mouthof said socket-in a surrounding relation to said post member, aninwardly directed tongue carriedby at least one of the members comprising said split collar to engage a vertically extending groove in theouter surface of said post member, said socket being threaded, athreaded disk screwed into said threaded socket supporting said tubularpost and including a stem provided with a looped end occupying thetubular portion of said post member, said head being adjustable tosupport said post at various heights;- a rod provided with a looped endinterlocking with the loop of said stem, a portion of said rod also 00cupying a port-ion of; the tubular part of said post member andprotruding through the aperture of said cap past the space-between thelatter cap and said seat bottom and thence extending through an apertureinsaid seat bottom intoa hole in said cushion; a manuallyaccessiblehandle mounted on the end of said protruding rod for rotatingsaid head, a collar fastened to said rod in an abutting relation to theunderside of said seat bottom,- and means carried by said seat bottom tomaintain said collar in said' abutting relation.

6.'In a chair of the kind described, a seat bottom' for supporting acushion, a tubular post member, an apertured cap member screwed onto theupper portion of said post member, a two armed cantilever spring havingthe free end portions of its arms mounted in said cap member and itsbody portion extended horizontally and connected by bowed downwardlydirected runs with said arms, said body portion underlying and beingpivoted to the forward portion of said seat bottom, a pair of bowedsprings each having end portions at one end pivotally related to saidpost member subjacent to said cap member, means carried by the centralarched portions of said bowed springs pivotally related to the rearportion of said seat bottom, a seat back fastened to and spanning thedistance between the other ends of said bowed springs, a base, anelongated vertically extending member rotatively mounted to sway on saidbase, said member having a vertically extending elongated socket in itsupper end, said post member being mounted in said socket in a verticallyadjustable manner, said base having a reduced circular upper portionprovided with a circumferential recess and said rotating and swayingmember having its lower portion annular and vaulted and provided with adepending skirt adapted to loosely overlie and envelop said contractedcircular upper portion of I said base including said recess, there beingan annular vaulted cavity in said annular vaulted lower portion and acylindrical cavity superjacent said vaulted cavity terminating at itsupper end in a semi-spherical seat, a vertically extending cylindricallyshaped support provided with a globular head occupying said seat andhaving its lower end threaded and screwed axially into said base forsupporting said rotating and swaying member in a vertically spacedrelation to said base, said support having an elongated bore extendingfrom its lower end to a point adjacent said globular head, there being aspiral groove cut in the wall of said support to render said wallresilient between said threaded end of said support and its globularhead in order toprovide for the swaying movement of said rotating andswaying member, and means carried by said skirt and occupying a portionof said recess to limit said swaying movement.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 and, there being an annular grooveformed in said support subjacent said globular head, and a set screwscrewed into said cylindrical cavity and occupyble, an elongatedvertically extending member provided with a hollow basal portionterminating in a downwardly directed skirt, said skirt circumferentiallyloosely surrounding said annularly recessed part of said base, thehollow within said elongated member being cylindrical throughout itsupper portion and terminating in a semi-spherical seat wherein said headtumably fits, said skirt carrying means projecting internally therefrominto said recess to connect the parts together and to limitthe swayingmovement of said elongated member, and means to support a chairbottom-upon said elongated member. 7

9. In a chair of the kind described, a base, an upstanding body providedat its top with a globular head and having its opposite end secured tosaid base, there being a spiral cut through the wall of said bodybetween its anchored end and said globular head rendering the slit partflexible, an elongated vertically extending member provided with ahollow basal portion, the hollow within said elongated member beingcylindrical throughout its upper portion and terminating in asemi-spherical seat wherein said head turnably fits, means carried bysaid hollow basal portion and cooperating with said base to limit theswaying movement of said elongated member, and a seat mounted upon saidelongated member.

10. In a chair structure comprising an upstanding elongated body havingascrewthreaded vertical bore extending downwardly into its upper endportion, an upstanding rod having a screwthreaded head fixed to itslower end, said head screwing adjustably into said bore, said rod beingin upper and lower sections which are slidably connected to allowvariations in the length oi? the rod, a tube resting on said head andslidably mounted in said bore, said tube loosely containing said rod,said tube projecting above the upper end of said bore and said rodprojecting above the upper end of the tube, a chair seat, and meansyieldingly supporting said chair seat upon and above the upper end ofsaid tube, said rod being accessible above said chair seat for rotationto adjust the height of the screwthreaded head carried by its lower end,said rod having a bearing in said chair seat.

11. The subject matter of claim 10, and a handle means secured to theupper end of the rod for use in manually rotating the latter to adjustthe height of the chair seat, a cushion resting upon said chair seat,said rod extending through said cushion and said handle means resting ina depression in the latter.

12. In a chair structure comprising an upstanding elongated body havinga screwthreaded vertical bore extending downwardly into its upper endportion, an upstanding rod having a screwthreaded head fixed to itslower end, said head screwing adjustably into said bore, a tube restingon said head and slidably mounted in said bore, said tube looselycontaining said rod, said tube projecting above the upper end of saidbore and said rod projecting above the upper end of the tube, a chairseat, and means yieldingly supporting said chair seat upon and above theupper end of said tube, said rod being accessible above said tube forrotation to adjust the height of the screwthreaded head carried by itslower end thereby to regulate the height of said chair seat.

RENWICK J. SHARP.

(References on following page) REFERENGES c'rmn- I The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNIT D STATES PATENTS Number 8 Name Date McKinney Aug; 12, 1913 KoyamaNov. 9-, 1920 G21 May 3, 1921 Anderson Oct. 20, 1925 Weber Dec. 7, 1926Manzell July 3, 1928 Meitzler May 30,1933 Stoll July 21, 1936 Sloan Apr.9, 1940 Anderson June 4,1940 Pickwell Feb. 29, 1944

